In this episode Arnie and Fred discuss the word "Church" and the fact that its use is unique to the New Testament. We discuss the word's use and its meaning in the New Testament by noting all of the passages it is used in. We note the misuses of the term which we find throughout conversations and writings today. Take a listen to this 30 minute discussion in which you may learn something about this very familiar word.
In this episode Arnie and Fred discuss the word "Church" and the fact that its use is unique to the New Testament. We discuss the word's use and its meaning in the New Testament by noting all of the passages it is used in. We note the misuses of the term which we find throughout conversations and writings today. Take a listen to this 30 minute discussion in which you may learn something about this very familiar word.
This is a presentation of the Woodland church of Christ meeting at 3370 Broad Street in Sumter, South Carolina. We meet for worship on Sunday at 10:30am, 5:30pm. We meet for bible study at 9:30am on Sunday and 7pm on Wednesday. If you have questions or comments on this lesson you may email them to Fred Gosnell at fgosnell@ftc-i.net or to Arnie Granke at agranke440718@twc.com.
Arnie :Good afternoon. This is Arnie Granke and Fred Gosnell with Woodland church Christ. This is What Does The Bible Say? Fred, ah, of course, there are a lot of people that we meet that you've met no doubt that are amazed to find out that the word church never appears in the Old Testament. Good way to find out where it is is to read the book and then you'll have a good idea of what's where. It is entirely unique to the New Testament. And it is translated, it's used to translate a word that we get the English word family of ecclesiastic from. In the New Testament, the word church appears 112 times. And it denotes an assembly, a gathering, a congregation, literally, it's a called out body of people. Surprisingly, it never means a church meeting house, as we commonly use the word in English. And by analyzing some New Testament contexts where the word is found, I think we can learn about a lot about the church. Would you like to kick it off?
Fred Gosnell :Sure. Yeah. Let's, let's let's look at the first place that the word appears and and that's in Matthew 16 and verses 13 through 19 in that context, and there it says, When Jesus came in to the coast Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that they art John the baptist, some Elijah and others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. And he saith unto them , But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of Living God. Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou Simon bar Jonah, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades or gates of hell shall not prevail against it, and I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth should be loosed in heaven. Now we need to note that Peters name meant, a stone. So when Jesus says upon this rock, I will build my church. He's not talking about Peter. He's talking about what Peter had had had said, Peter had said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of living God. And it's and it's upon that foundational truth that that Jesus is going to build, He says, My church. So so what we learned there is that the builder is Jesus. And He's the owner. Of course, the the name is certainly applied from from the owner. And we find the name referred to in Romans 161:6. And there it says, Paul writes, Greet one another with a holy kiss, all churches of Christ greet you. Of course, this is talking about local churches here, but but it's the same name. It's the Lord's church. So it's, it says when to be built. And Jesus says, I will build my church. When Jesus said that it wasn't built yet. But then the foundation, rock, and of course, again, is the truth of the fact that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of living God. He's the builder and it's upon that foundational truth that His church will be built. And of course, the when we see ah, kingdom of heaven, that's the same place the same entity, I guess.
Arnie :I gave you the keys of the kingdom of heavn.
Fred Gosnell :Right. Yeah. And and then the headquarters of the church that Jesus would build is in heaven. Now, how many churches did Jesus say he was going to build? I will build my church. Only one, in the singular.
Arnie :It's a it's a singular, singular terminology. It in Acts chapter two. Paul was, rather Peter was preaching on the day of Pentecost in in AD 33. That'd be the same as the Feast of Weeks. That there was a large gathering of people there in in Jerusalem. And in Acts chapter two and beginning in verse 37. Let me give you another word of background here. Peter had shown from the scriptures and from eyewitness testimony that Jesus had been not only crucified, but he'd been resurrected as well, and therefore fulfilled Old Testament prophecy that he was the Christ. So, verse 37, so, When they heard this, they were pricked in their heart and send unto Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. The promise is unto to you, and to your children, to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words, he did testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word, were baptized. That same day they were added unto them about 3000 souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common, sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all as every man had need, and they continuing dai, daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house. did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart. Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily, such as should be saved, or such as we're being saved there. So it is fascinating the the number of things that each of these, these little segments of Scripture can, can teach us. Verse 47, is the the one that has the word church in there. And and so of course we know now, when the church began. The chapter begins in verse one by saying when the day of Pentecost was fully come. So the occasion was was Pentecost or the Feast of Weeks, possibly AD30. But some say AD 33. We don't have have the modern day calendar to go on. So we're not absolutely sure which of those those a, years that's when it began. Who was it that controlled the membership? Did, did they vote on anybody? As matter of fact, it was the Lord that added to the church. Whom did he add to the church? Those that were being saved. So members were added. They didn't join. And, and they were individuals who had had been saved. So the church entirely was comprised of, of individuals that were had obeyed the gospel. When were they added? Well, they were being added day by day. So apparently, as they continued teaching and, and preaching and what not there in Jerusalem, there would be more who who obeyed the gospel, The initial group was 3000, but they kept coming and day by day, there were more that were, were added. And you asked at the end of, of reading, Matthew 16, verse 18, how many churches were there? Same thing is taught in this passage as well. Just one the Lord added to the church, those that were being saved.
Fred Gosnell :Yeah, it's the church and the is a definite article. So it specifies a particular church, the only one that Jesus ever built. So Paul, the word appears in Galatians 1:11 through 13. Paul there is talking about where he received the gospel. And he says, but I certify you brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man, for I neither received of man neither was taught it but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. For ye have heard of my conversation, or my behavior, in time past in the Jews religion, how that beyond measure, I persecuted the church of God and wasted it. Of course, he's talking about what he had done before as a pharisee before he became a Christian. But notice he says, I persecuted the church of God. So we find that in the Bible that the Lord's church is referred to by a number of names. Sometimes it's talked about in in a local sense, but here it's the, but it's still the church of God. And the word the is here. It's specified as the church. So Paul says, I persecuted the church of God. Now, he tells that in Acts chapter eight, three and four, there the record, Luke's record says, As for Saul course, his name was Saul before he became a Christian. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church and that's the same idea of wasting it. He made havoc of church entering into every house, haling men and women, committed them to prison, therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word. So Paul says that I did that before. He said, But I persecuted the church of God. Now, how many how many churches are, did Paul persecute here? Well,
Arnie :I think I heard you use that definite article again,
Fred Gosnell :The Church of God. There's there's one church that Jesus built, whose headquarters is in heaven. It's a spiritual body. It's it's not a building, not a physical building. It's a building, but it's not a physical building.
Arnie :You know, you're just combining a couple of passages in Romans chapter 16, when we saw that, that it was spoken of as a church of Christ, and then in Galatians, chapter 11, we find it being the church of God. Well, of course, there's no contradiction there. Because if you're a Christian, you believe that Jesus is divine. If you don't believe that Jesus is God, that He was, as John said, with God in the beginning, in John chapter one, you're not a Christian. That's one of the essential things that you that we must believe if we're going to be, to be saved, and without that, there's no hope of heaven. So, you know, we're not going to argue about that about the name. It's the same individual who owns owns the church there. Ephesians chapter one. And beginning in in verse 18, as Paul is writing to the Ephesians, he said, The eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ when He raised him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in heavenly places, or literally in the heavenlies, Far above all principality, and power, and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of Him, and filleth all in, in all. So here in in Ephesians, chapter one we find out who the head of the of the church is, the head is Christ. The head of the church is not a president, head of the church is not a pope. The head of the church is is Christ and we find out what the church is referred to as, it's a called out body. So it's said to have been Christ's body, the body of, of Christ. Well, if you've got a head, it's got to have body and the body is is the church. And you know what Fred? That word church keeps coming up, doesn't it? There's no es on the end of it. How many are there, just one and something else is, you know that the church is complete. It's not, it's not as if well, we need some more, we need some more different views. We need some more organizations. We need some more officers. All that's there in the church it's the fullness that filleth all in all It's not the fullness if it's not complete, and it says it's the fullness.
Fred Gosnell :Yeah. Jesus did a pretty good job when He built it. He didn't build it halfway. And and again, Paul in writing to the Ephesians, and of course the Ephesians, the church at Ephesus, they were they, they were Gentiles. And he's explaining this and he says Ephesians chapter three, six through 11. He says, That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs and of the same body and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel. And of course, he's, he's talking about the Gentiles would be in the same body as as the obedient Jews would be. And partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel, whereof I was made a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me who am less than the least of all apostles, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God who created all things by Jesus Christ[ to the intent that now unto principalities and powers, in heavenly places, or in the heavenlies, might be made known by the church, the manifold wisdom of God according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. So, so the the church, the work of the church, is to publish the gospel. And of course, that's rep, that represents God's wisdom, God's eternal wisdom as a matter of fact. And, excuse me, and where would this be? Well in, in the, unto the highest positions. And was this just something that God came up? You know, some, some people think, Well, you know, when when Jesus was crucified, God had instituted a new plan because Satan had kind of stopped what God wanted to do. No, this was the eternal plan. This was His eternal purpose that He did through Jesus Christ. And that's who He accomplish this work through, through purpose, which he purposed, the last couple of phrases there, the eternal, according to the eternal purpose in verse 11, which He purposed in Christ Jesus, our Lord. So this was God's plan. This was a from the eternity from from long before anybody ever knew God had planned this, and Jesus carried it out when he built his church in the first century.
Arnie :Let me just go back and correct what I think was a miss reading and one of the one of the things listeners have to understand is that I'm a very deaf individual I have about an 85% hearing loss, so I don't hear everything as well as I ought to. But I think that Fred that you may have said the least of all apostles, and if If you didn't say that, I apologize. But but that's the least of all saints, Paul is is saying is, there is this grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles, the unsearchable riches of Christ. All right, well, let's let's go to the Colossian letter. in Colossians, chapter one and, and down in verse 13. And we got, had to find a starting point for some of these passages here. We'd have been reading to you on into the night. But we'll start in verse 13, for this context, Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and the speaking of God, obviously, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son; In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins, who is the image of the invisible God, the firstbornof every creature, for by him are all things created, that are in heaven, that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, all things were created by Him and for Him, and he's before all things. And by Him all things consist. And he's the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He might have the preeminence. And you know, the fact of of Him being mentioned as a creator, I did say something a few moments ago, just mentioned, John chapter one. Let me just begin the reading of John one at one, one. We'll just go a couple of verses deep in there. But listen to what this says concerning Christ. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him. And without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life. The life was the light of, of men. So that's a passage that not only tells us that Jesus was the creator, but it tells us that He was divine, He was God, is God and, and that He was with God. It's not like He was created first. And then He created everything else. I have some friends that believe that, but that's not what that passage says, or any other passage in in the scriptures. So here as you're looking at the church, that's mentioned in verse 18, first of Colossians chapter one verse 18, it's used again, as being synonymous with the kingdom, the church is the kingdom, the kingdom is the church. The kingdom is not something that's all that's coming in the future. It's already come, it's here, and Christians are in the kingdom, and they're, they're in the church at the same time. Who is the head of this. of this church and of this kingdom? Christ is and the reason for that is because of His preeminence, that He may have the preeminence. Fred, how many churches are there in that passage?
Fred Gosnell :There's one,
Arnie :Just one, just one. And and again, there's mention of the church, being His, His body. Colossians chapter one and, and verse 24, I who now rejoice in my sufferings for you and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh, for his body's sake, his body's sake, which is the church. So, so here is Christ, the head, and again, the church is His body.
Fred Gosnell :Yes. And Paul, Paul writes to Timothy in First Timothy 3:14 and 15. Now he says, These things write unto thee hoping to come unto thee shortly, says, But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how that oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And again, you know, as you mentioned, there's a lot of things that the Holy Spirit wraps up in just a few passages. Yeah. And in this one, we we find out that that that the church is the house of God. It's God's family. It's the it's it's the church of the living God. How many churches again, are are in this passage? Oh, just just one. And it's the pillar and that it says it's the pillar and ground of the truth. The pillar and ground. It supports and it shows forth the truth. And again, how many, how many truths are in the passage? Now it's just one truth. It's not my truth and your truth. It's the Lord's truth and there's only one truth.
Arnie :And your truth differs from the Lord's truth, yours ain't the truth.
Fred Gosnell :That's right. It's, it's it's the pillar and ground of the truth. And then he notes the behavior of its members. He says that Thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of living God. That's not talking about not running in the church building.
Arnie :or writing notes or writing notes.
Fred Gosnell :That's, that's talking about the proper behavior of the Lord's people. And always whether assembled or in their normal daily life. There's there's guidance for us to make sure that we follow what the Lord has told us. And And when we do that it'll work out better for us. People who disobey the Lord, things don't work out, work out well for them.
Arnie :If you're a Christian 24 hours a day, you are in the church, you are in a congregation, the gathering the body of Christ, and and therefore we ought to behave as if we're members of the, of the body of Christ. You know, a minute ago you were talking about him cramming a lot of things in, in one verse. Keep in mind that we had a previous discussion on on where the Bible came from, and that is that the Holy Spirit is the author of that and and He, He knows what words to use and gives them to the writer. So Paul says in First Corinthians chapter chapter one, We have received not the spirit of the world, in verse 12, but the Spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God, which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. The Holy Spirit is the one who provide, provided those those words. Well, let's see, I think you were you were talking about First Timothy three. Let me let me take, take us over to Hebrews chapter, chapter 12. And at verse 22. And the Hebrew writer said, Ye are come unto Mount Zion, unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, not the physical Jerusalem, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn which are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect. And again, there's a lot that's crammed in, in those verses. Where had they come? Well they had come to, to the to the house of God, they had come to the universal church which which was established in in heaven. It's it's a universal church, it's the general assembly of Christ. And then how many churches again? Just one, just one. You know and all kidding aside, you know, when you, when you look to do research and go online, and find that there are literally thousands of different churches worldwide. You know, there's just one, the Lord only has one church, not not thousands of, of churches, just the, just the one. And, and these these members are firstborn ones. It's a plural word. They members that are for the firstborn. Some of the names of the of the church are mentioned there in the passage, as well. And and where are we enrolled? If we're members of the church? I know a lot of churches want to keep their keep their roles filled even when somebody has died or moved, moved away, they keep him as a member just to have a have a thick roll of members. We're enrolled in heaven. And, and that's good enough for me.
Fred Gosnell :That's right. And, and and Paul again, Paul writing to the Ephesians in Ephesians, chapter 3:19 to 21. He says now, And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. So again, where, to whom is the glory? Well, the glory is to God. And where is that glory to be? Well, it's in the church. And of course, you know, why in the church? Well, the church is the body of Christ. That's where all saved people are. The Lord's the one that controls who goes in His church, He adds them and then which church? Well, it's the church that Jesus built, by Him. It's in Jesus Christ.
Arnie :Yeah. The statement there in Ephesians three says, by Jesus Christ, and that word that is is translated by is literally, en in Greek. In, it should be in Jesus Christ.
Fred Gosnell :Exactly. And and so what's the duration of this church? Well, it's throughout all ages. It's an eternal church. And then Paul ends and he says, Amen. So be it. You know, a lot of us older folk, we remember Walter, Walter Cronkite, his a signature sign off was and that's the way it is on Sunday, March 8 2020. Well, except in the duration of the church, throughout all ages, world without end, that's the way it is, world without end.
Arnie :Christ has only one church, one called out body comprising the saved from all mankind. His congregation belongs to Him, and He loves it. It reverences Him. He built it then gave it Himself up for it. Only if we've been washed with water according to this word, has He saved us and added us to his assembly, enrolled our name in heaven. One day we will gather, He will gather us together there. We hope that that includes you. And we will be delighted to help you make it so. If you need to write Fred, you can contact him at fgosnell@ftc-i.net. Or you can reach me at agranke440718@twc.com. Thank you for listening to What Does The Bible Say? We look forward to speaking with you again next week. Transcribed by https://otter.ai